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Aaah, two of my favorite things – books and movies! Last week was an eventful week for book lovers and film enthusiasts like me. As posted in my previous blog, we had the33rd Manila International Book Fair at SMX that lasted 5 days offering awesome discounts, meet & greet with the writers and other fun activities. And a week earlier, from September 6 to 16, we had the 15th Cine Europa film festival at Shangrila Mall that showcased 25 independent and commercial movies from 17 different countries in Europe. And I was lucky to have attended both events on weekend.

MOVIE MARATHON

Cine Europa 15

The film fest as mentioned was on its 15 years of sharing European culture through movies. I’ve been hearing about the festival back when I was still in college, and though I’ve been meaning to watch in the past years , it just won’t happen. Then my cousin who is a college student was tasked to write reaction papers for at least two movies featured in the festival. So we agreed that we’ll watch together on Saturday, since I’m also into movies (I like indie films more but I also appreciate the commercials ones) and since it is also free. Yes, free admission! All you need is to show up at the cinema and watch all you want.

So we arrived at 1pm and the first movie just started. The guard told us and 3 other late comers too that we don’t know, that we there are no more seats and that we should just wait and line up for 2nd movie later. But good thing we didn’t leave yet because just minutes later, a theater attendant went out to announced that there are still 5 seats available. It was meant for us 5! 🙂

Atmen

The first movie was Atmen (Breathing) from Austria. A drama flick about a rehabilitation of a teen offender who was working as a mortuary attendant – (dressing, cleaning, picking up and delivering corpses to their final resting place) while waiting for his parole decision. It is a beautiful film about how he came to terms with the “crime” he committed and his discoveries of his unhappy past.

When the first movie was about to end, I heard the person sitting next to me say that the line outside for the next movie is already long, so I told my cousin that we go out soon. Outside, there were already a crowd of people waiting patiently to get in for the next flick. Wow! I didn’t expect people would actually show up to watch movies unfamiliar to the usually hollywood-lover Pinoys. Oh well it’s free!

Si Puo Fare

The next flick we saw was an Italian comedy that now joins the roster of my favorite movies of all time. Si Puo Fare, which roughly translates to “We Can Do That” is about the 12 mental patients who were released by an Italian psychiatric hospital and now working in a cooperative. Nello, the new manager at the cooperative encouraged them to work together as a team and helped them do “normal jobs” ( parquet flooring installation) that earns well. It was a fun movie that had the entire theater bursting into laughter in almost every scene. There are parts that gripped our hearts too but mostly, we died in laughter. 🙂 The story is just fantastic, it’s fresh, it’s new, it’s clever. I love every bits of it. It was one of the funniest I’ve seen so far. A must watch I have to say. I love all of the characters, especially Mr. President. 🙂

Coincidentally, just a week or two ago, I also watched the 1975 Jack Nicholson’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest movie which are quite similar to Si Puo Fareas it was also about mental patients, but it’s more of a drama.

Poll Diaries

After the comical flick, we lined up again for the 3rd movie of the day, Poll – a german drama set during the World War I that follows the story of a young teenage girl named Oda, who moved from Berlin to a place somewhere in Estonia to join his doctor father, step mom and siblings when her mom died. The Russian who are stationed in the area and who are friends with her dad, would sell the bodies of the Estonian anarchists they killed and captured to her father to be studied and later jarred as part of his increasing obsession with experimentation. As Oda struggled with the loneliness and lack of connection with the people around her, she met a wounded Estonian anarchist hiding in the area. She nursed and hid him in the attic at his father’s laboratory without anyone knowing. I have to say, it is one great movie too!

Since there was a long queue already outside the theater, my cousin decided to go out when she thought the movie was just seconds away from ending, so she can line up for the last free movie that night. But what she thought was already finished, wasn’t, as there was still some scene shown. So I just told her the ending when I went out. 🙂

Senna

The fourth and last movie we saw was from the UK, titledSenna, a documentary about the famous F1 driver in the 80s and 90s, Ayrton Senna. It was a nice docu film but we weren’t able to finish it as it was already late and we thought we might miss the last train, plus we haven’t eaten dinner yet as the 4 movies only have 30-minute intervals in between and you still have to fall in line. So imagine, from 1pm to 1030pm -a movie marathon indeed!

We just couldn’t stop talking about the films we saw and even googled them when we arrived home. I would say, it was one of the Saturdays I enjoyed a lot. As someone into arts, I like watching movies, but I don’t watch a lot from the cinema. I am not the type who would watch just because it is popular or because it the latest hollywood flick. I’d rather watch movies at home, at the most convenient time and place (my bedroom) to understand and enjoy every movie scene.

BOOK FAIR

And Sunday, after church, my sister, niece and I went to the book fair despite the rainy weather. It was the last day of the fair and still there were many who showed up to take advantage of the discounts offered. I bought a few books for myself, my niece and some friends that I ought to give as birthday or christmas gifts. Yes, I already started my Christmas shopping as early as now, in fact, I started as early as June. 🙂 Also, as mentioned due to work commitments, I wasn’t able to join the bloggers challenge this year hosted by OMF Literature, but hopefully next year, I can join again.

So it was a weekend of fun for me. I’m glad I finally watched the European film festival. I will do it again next year. From now on, I will take advantage of the film festivals in Manila not only to satisfy the art-lover in me but to learn also more about the other cultures through flicks. 🙂

It’s the time of the year again! Time for one of the most anticipated event in the year for bookworms like me – the 33rd Manila International Bookfair!!! Yey! The fair started on Wednesday, September 12,and will end on Sunday, September 16, 2012. This is my 3rd time to attend the annual book fair in Manila, wherein last year I had fun when I participated in the OMF Literature’s bloggers challenge! Sadly though, I am not alble to join the challeng this year, I am quite engaged right now with so many activities and I can’t focus too much on othr things. But I will make sure that I will have time to invade the shelves of the bookshops and publishing companies participating in the event. 🙂

The fair is at SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia. So for those in Manila right now, don’t forget to drop by SMX tomorrow or on Sunday to take advantage of the awesome book discounts. Hording is allowed don’t worry! :p Get to meet your favorite authors too, who might be there for their book lauching and signing.

And oh don’t forget to visit OMF literature at aisle K! See you!!!

Like this:

Last Friday was an amazing day for the bibliophile in me because I took part of ‘OMF‘s Stuff All You Can’ book sale. I was given a pass for the one-day-only event (June 8) that I exchanged for a bag in their store, stuff all the books that I was able to in it and paid only P550. Whoa! Isn’t that amazing? Yes, that’s like only $12! I was able to stuff about 23 books inside the bag, which if not for the P550 pass, would cost me about P7,000+ or about $170-180. Imagine the thousands of peso I got to saved.

I got different kind of books – for teens, women, about leadership, marriage, relationship, church, etc. I made sure I got variety because I thought it would be a great Christmas gift to family and friends. Yeah, I’m already thinking about Christmas gifts this month of June. 🙂

And you can start buying ‘present’ too either for yourself or for friends and love ones because, even though the “Stuff All You Can” is over, as a part of OMF’s 55th Anniversary celebration, they are giving book lovers in the Philippines 3 weeks to raid their shelves!

OMF’s R.O.B. U.S. – Raid Our Bookstore Ultimate Sale started last weekend (June 9) and will end on June 27, 2012. You may choose from different bundles below or enjoy 20-30% off during the sale period:

Only from June 7-27, 2012. So hurry and visit OMF Literature’s book stores nationwide. 🙂

Like this:

Somebody says, “If we are what we eat then most of us would become french fries by now. The truth is we are what we read.” Jim Rohn says 5 years from now, you and I will be exactly the same people today except for two things: the books we read and the friends we meet. Read good books and cultivate honest and good friends by being one yourself. – Francis Kong.

Like this:

Last week, OMF Literatureinvited me to the launching of Mr. Harold Sala’s newest book – What You Need to Know When You Need Healing – an exclusive event that was held in St. Luke’s Hospital in Quezon City. Now you asked, booking-launching in a Hospital? Yes. Well the book is about Healing. And because I think it was sponsored also by the Christian doctors at St. Luke’s. I was not able to attend, though I really really wanted to, but due to unexpected training at work that ended at 6pm and the event would start at 6pm, so I wasn’t able to. Also the location is quite far from where I live, if it was the other St. Luke’s that’s located in my city, that won’t be a problem.

Anyway, here is Mr. Sala’s newest book:

What You Need to Know When You Need Healing by Dr. Harold Sala

(c/o OMF Literature )

Dr. Sala’s newest book, What You Need to Know When You Need Healing, is a groundbreaking book, a product of painstaking and careful research by this internationally-known Bible teacher, lecturer and counselor. Interspersed with historical and biblical narratives are stories of physical and spiritual healing, which prove that trusting God yields lasting and eternal rewards. This book will lead you to better understand the compassionate nature of our Heavenly Father and how you can find healing His way.

What You Need to Know When You Need Healing is not only for those who need healing but also for their family members, friends and caregivers. Professionals ministering to and helping the sick such as pastors, ministers, and doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers will greatly benefit from this too.

*** Removed most of the pictures as I don’t really intend to show my pictures here, if not for the challenge I joined. 🙂 – updated Nov 5, 2011.

Right, so the 2011 Manila International Book Fair has already ended last Sunday. Aww… sad I know. But I’m sure it has left many wonderful memories to everyone who took part of the event. Maybe you still have a hang over. I do! 🙂

I have to say, this year’s MIBF rocks! It is my 2nd time to attend the MIBF and why did I say it rocks? Because this year, I am not just a book shopper but I took part in some of the activities in the fair hosted by OMF Literature. (As usual, OMF booth was jam-packed with many book shoppers! Woohoo!) (Read my post about MIBF last year, click here)

As part of the bloggers network of OMF, I was invited to the bloggers meet up last Sept 15. OMF Lit prepared something for us bloggers to make our MIBF experience more exciting and engaging. 🙂 It is called the OMF LIT BLOGGERS MIBF CHALLENGE. Yup, we were given a list of 10 things to do while in their booth and outside. Together with my cousin LJ and my sister Lei, I had fun completing the challenges.

Here are those 10 challenging tasks that I did and a brief story about them:

1. Grab your favorite book, go to the stage and have your picture taken like our I Read poster.

My cousin LJ was my first partner doing the first few tasks and one of them is this. So I’m posting two pictures, one of LJ and another of me.

2. Walk up to a complete stranger and recommend a book for them to buy.

Oh, this task was exciting at the same time a lil hard especially since it involves other people – (READ: STRANGERS!). Yuppers, I approached one of the shoppers at OMFLit’s booth and recommended a book. The lady that I talked to was browsing the shelves and was still deciding between a book by Tim LaHaye and another author. I was fortunate that she was so willing to listen to what I have to say so it wasn’t such a hard task. Of course, what book would I recommend but by one of my favorite authors of course, Joshua Harris’ Dug Down Deep.

She asked me, why this book? I said because I have read the book, (well, still reading…1 Chapter to go and I’m done! Yey!) and it greatly helped me understand what Christian life is really about and how we can develop a deeper relationship with Christ. I also told her that I can relate to a lot of stories that Josh mentioned in the book because I, too was born and raised to a Christian family and not to mention, a member of Minister’s family. And I wouldn’t recommend a book that I haven’t read or not even like – I’m not like the other TV endorsers. Lol.

Well she already read Josh’s other books and she is familiar with his writing style, so that helped her convinced to buy herself a copy of Dug Down Deep. Yup, she bought it! 🙂 Oh my convincing powers! Hahaha…kidding!

And to add something interesting, I was surprised when a man approached the lady I was talking to and he sure is familiar! Yup, he is a former co-worker and they know each other! What a small world! So I was glad to have recommended a great book to a stranger and reunited with a former colleague. 🙂

3. Take a video of yourself talking about why and who you love reading. Format is “I love to read because” or “I love reading ________”

Just watch the video. 🙂

4. Help out and be a bagger at our manual counter for 15 minutes (take a picture as “proof”)

I did this on a Saturday (Sept 17) when OMF Lit book was packed with book shoppers. It was fun helping out the OMF Lit staff at the counter and thanking the shoppers for buying.

5. Wear a silly hat, go to another booth and have a picture taken with a stranger

This guy in the picture was from the Kumon booth, just right next to OMF Lit. He approached us and was promoting Kumon to us but I told him my niece is already attending the Reading and Math classes in their branch in Taguig. I instead asked him if it’s okay if he would pose in a picture with me as part of my tasks, and he was nice enough to say yes. Then, 2 days later (Monday), I saw him in the same building where I work. Yup, their office is located in the same building. Small world indeed.

6. Introduce yourself by going up on stage, getting the mic and telling them your blog url and what your blog is all about.

I have stage fright. Okay, I don’t like the spotlight. I am more of the ‘behind the scene’ person or the ‘mastermind’ but not a host or someone on the stage. So this task is one of the last items on the list that I did. I approached Ida and said that I am shy but I will do it. However, there will be a program that’s about to start and there are authors giving autographs to readers and I don’t want to steal people’s attention. So instead of telling the WOOORRRLLD about my blog url, LOL, I took part in the WORDS and MUSIC activity by volunteering to read a book excerpt. Yeah, I still went to the stage and read in front of everyone. Yay! I did read the first two paragraphs of Chapter 8 of Pass or Fail by Ronald Molmisa.

It was a great evening of Music and Words. Musicians and singers serenaded us while browsing the shelves. Awesome! I love it when Owie sang Corinne Bailey Rae’s Like A Star.

Aside from enjoying the performances of these awesome singers and musicians, I also won a book and get to keep another book. How cool is that? After an excerpt was read from the book Solo Flight by by Grace Chong and Francie Castaneda-Lacanilao, the hosts Juddah Paolo and Lynnie Leal decided to have a little game. Juddah announced that since the book is about single women, the game is just for single women. And since I was in front of the stage, rehearsing for my book excerpt reading, I was called to the stage and was asked a few questions and I get to have the book. Oh don’t ask me how I caught the host’s attention. It was a little embarrassing. LOL.

7. Post something on your social networks (FB, Twitter, etc) inviting them to the MIBF OMF Lit booth, but in an unusual way

READ:

My post in FB last September 17, 2011

8. Get 3 people (not your friends) to sign the OMF Lit survey

Here they are:

They were happy to get the I-READ magnetic bookmark as a token for taking time to answer the survey form.

9. Briefly interview 1 OMF Lit staff about how they feel about the MIBF so far.

I hate to admit it, but I guess I’m having a ‘senior moment’ – I forgot the name of the OMF Lit staff that I interviewed (Oh signs of aging!) but above is her picture. 🙂 Well she said, they are very happy of the outcome of the book fair so far. Many people have been visiting their booth and are taking advantage of the great discounts they offer. Also, they hope that the shoppers will enjoy with the activities they prepared. I asked how she would compare last year’s book fair to this year. She answered that compare to last year, the books that they offer this time are more varied, with authors coming from different background and genre, thus giving more choices for the readers.

10. Write a blog (or even a series of blog entries) about your whole MIBF experience

Read the list again from 1-9 and you’ll get my story for number 10. 🙂

Right, so let me say it again, 2011 MIBF Rocks! Thank you OMF for an awesome experience. I can’t wait for the next year’s fair. 🙂

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